Marriott to manage YTL’s hotels in Koh Samui and Hokkaido

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 20): YTL Corp Bhd has awarded the contract to manage its two new upscale hotels in Koh Samui, Thailand and Niseko Village, Hokkaido, Japan to global hotel company Marriott International Inc.

Both hotels will be operated under The Ritz-Carlton brand.

In a statement yesterday, YTL Corp’s hospitality arm YTL Hotels and Properties Sdn Bhd (YTL Hotels) said it had signed two management contracts with Marriott International to develop the two new hotels, which will feature the renowned hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton.

It said the award is in line with YTL Hotels’ global expansion of its portfolio of 26 hotels and resorts across Asia, Australia and Europe, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur and three Marriott hotels in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“YTL Hotels has had a long standing relationship with Marriott International since 1995, managing five of our properties with 2,000 rooms across Asia-Pacific and this expansion into Thailand and Japan is a continuation of our shared success over the years,” said YTL Hotels executive director Datuk Mark Yeoh in the statement.

He said in Niseko Village, the group has long-term developmental plans to transform it into a leading all-season tourist destination of Asia.

“Expected to be completed in the next five years, the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village will be the first Ritz-Carlton hotel in Hokkaido, but an addition to the existing four Ritz-Carlton hotels in Japan located in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa.

“In the next 10 years, we will also build Ritz-Carlton Residences complementing both hotels to meet growing demand by international home buyers looking to invest in resort residences,” said Yeoh.

“This approach is in alignment with The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Kuala Lumpur, which YTL developed as the first Ritz-Carlton branded residences in Malaysia,” he added.

The Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui, meanwhile, will be developed in Plai Laem located in the Choeng Mon area.

The hotel, which will feature 187 rooms and pool villas, is slated to be completed within the next two years and will complement the other Ritz-Carlton hotel in Krabi-Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

It will also add to YTL Hotels’ current footprint in Thailand, which includes The Surin Phuket and the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express, which travels from Singapore to Thailand.

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This story first appeared in The Edge Property pullout on Nov 20, 2015, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download The Edge Property here for free.